The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge is an Art Gallery, Library and Visitor Information Centre situated in the heart of historic Canterbury.

This award winning facility provides state-of-the-art exhibition galleries, excellent educational facilities and a varied programme of events for all ages.

Whether you are a frequent Library user, a teacher on a School Workshop, a parent enjoying a cup of coffee in our Café or an inquisitive explorer studying our treasures from the Ancient worlds; The Beaney is a building for everyone.

Venue Type:

Museum, Gallery, Library

Opening hours

Museum & Galleries

Monday to Wednesday: 9am to 5pmThursday: 9am to 7pmFriday and Saturday: 9am to 5pmSunday: 10am to 5pm

Museum & Galleries: New opening hours from 1st June 2017

Monday: ClosedTuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pmSunday: 12pm to 5pm

Café

Monday to Saturday: 10am to 4pmSunday: 12noon to 4pm

Visitor Information

Monday to Wednesday: 9am to 6pmThursday: 9am to 8pmFriday: 9am to 6pmSaturday: 9am to 5pmSunday: 10am to 5pm

Library

Monday to Wednesday: 9am to 6pmThursday: 9am to 8pmFriday: 9am to 6pmSaturday: 9am to 5pmSunday: Closed

Admission charges

Free entry to the building. Charges may apply for some special events and exhibitions. See our website for full details.

Getting there

Located in Canterbury high street adjacent to Best Lane.

Collection details

Archives, Weapons and War

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (temporary)

Here's Looking At You: Selling Portrait Show

14 October — 19 November 2017

Kent-based artists and photographers show and sell work around the theme of portraiture, in its widest interpretations, in a selling exhibition in the Front Room Gallery in parallel with the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition touring from the National Portrait Gallery.

Website

Oh Yes It Is!

25 November 2017 — 18 February 2018

A celebration of Pantomime told through one of the UK's largest collections. Laugh, boo and hiss at this hands-on exhibition featuring posters, costume designs and memorabilia from the David Drummond collection, recently acquired by the University of Kent.

Website

Changing The Pattern: The Next Generation

An exhibition highlighting Project Liberty, a long-term mentoring project in Canterbury, Ashford and Swale, supporting girls and young women at risk of exploitation and abuse.

Also on show is Rising Sun's work with adolescent boys and their views on building positive and healthy relationships. The project's strong creative element inspired by object in the Beaney helps participants access a safe exploratory way to express their feelings.

An exhibition being launched on UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Website

Games Design Workshop for 13+

24 October 2017

Come and help design a new mobile game, learn some history and turn it into a playable story. We are creating a game app as part of the History of Place project. History of Place: Eight Places, Eight hundred years in the lives of deaf and disabled people. You can find out more about it here

This edition of the game will be linked to medieval Faversham and Canterbury and the links between the almshouses and hospitals on the pilgrim’s route to Canterbury Cathedral.

This is a unique opportunity to influence a digital game in development, to influence the stories, the characters, and how and what we play. No coding or games design skills required. Bring your imagination.

Admission

No booking required. For more information please contact info@accentuateuk.org

Website

Turn medieval life into a digital game

Sessions start at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.Workshops last up to 45 minutes.

Come and help design a new mobile game. Learn some history. Turn it in into a playable story.

We are creating a game app as part of the History of Place project, which is exploring eight places and 800 years in the lives of deaf and disabled people.

This edition of the game will be linked to medieval heritage and the links between the almshouses and hospitals on the pilgrim’s route to Canterbury Cathedral, including Maison Dieu, Faversham and St Thomas the Martyr, Eastbridge Hospital.

This is a unique opportunity to influence a digital game in development, to influence the stories, the characters, and how and what we play. Developers Surface Impression will be turning your ideas into a playable game.

Website

Meet The Team from Rising Sun

25 November 2017

Meet the team from Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service.

Support United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and meet the team involved in our brilliant new exhibition! There will also be opportunities to meet the Rising Sun team on selected weekends during the exhibition.

Website

Lemon Zingers: Singing For Wellbeing

2 December 2017

Drop in for a live performance from the Lemon Zingers - Canterbury's pop choir. The group sing original arrangements of inspiring contemporary songs with squishy harmonies (and today, the best of Christmas jangly ones!).

Website

Visit the Beaney website

E-mail

Contact The Beaney

Telephone

Contact The Beaney

01227 862162

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.